Suspension of gas supply will stop production in the factory.

The workers and employees held several sit-in demonstrations, rallies and brought out processions since October 15, threatening the authorities of a "deadlock" in all government installations in the area including Ghorasal Urea Fertiliser Factory and Ghorasal Power Plant if production in PUFF is stopped. They chanted slogans against the Energy Advisor.

Newspaper reports on October 15 quoted the Energy Advisor as saying that gas supply to PUFF could be suspended due to short supply of gas.

At the rallies held at different points in the industrial area, the workers and employees leaders said the 300 MT daily capacity factory is running smoothly since its establishment in 1986.

A plan to suspend gas supply to it is a conspiracy to close the profitable factory and make the country more dependent on imported urea fertiliser, they said.

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, president of PUFF Employees Union and Narsingdi Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Nazibur Rahman said, "We always exceed the annual production target of one lakh tonnes. The factory utilises 14.5 mmcfd gas daily, which can be continued if the authorities are sincere to run the factory, he said.

He said suspension of gas supply to PUFF will have a great cascading affect on other fertiliser factories in the country. The production cost of urea at PUFF is lesser than other urea factories in the country, he claimed.

The government will have to import urea worth Tk 190 crore if the factory is closed while the cost of running the factory is around Tk 87 crore, he said. This will be a net loss to the government. Besides, country's agriculture will suffer greatly, he added.

When contacted, Acting Managing Director of the factory Manjur Ahamed Tarafder said, he has not yet received any letter from higher authorities as regards suspension of gas supply to the factory.